Tired after a long shift – but driving home anyway?

What our survey reveals about the risks faced by nurses, particularly after night shifts

• A quarter of respondents to a Nursing Standard survey say they have had an accident or near-miss after a tiring shift
• While many nurses say they prefer 12-hour shifts, limited access to rest areas and breaks contribute to safety concerns
• Naps during breaks are being seens as a ‘safety intervention’ at some trusts

As many as one in four nurses have had a car accident or near-miss when driving home tired after a shift, a Nursing Standard survey suggests.

Nurses described falling asleep at the wheel during the journey, with one revealing: ‘I crashed into a tree and rolled my car on [the] way home from a night